#llangennech — Public Fediverse posts

UNCANNY: First look at Martin Clunes as disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards in explosive new trailer

In the chilling new footage, Clunes is seen sporting Edwards’ signature silver hair and somber expression as he portrays the downfall of one of Britain’s most powerful television figures.

The two-part factual drama, titled Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, is set to explore the “double life” of the Llanelli-born presenter as it spiralled out of control.

For many in the local area, the fall of Edwards was a particularly bitter blow, given his deep roots in the village of Llangennech, where his father was a prominent figure.

The series is expected to delve into how the man who once championed Welsh culture and history on the world stage became embroiled in a sordid secret life.

Channel 5 has confirmed the production will focus on how Edwards groomed a vulnerable 17-year-old over many months while maintaining his status as the nation’s most-trusted newsreader.

The trailer features a dramatic recreation of the moment Edwards announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II to millions, juxtaposed with his secret online activities.

For Martin Clunes, the role marks a startling and gritty departure from the “cosy” comedy-drama of Doc Martin that made him a household name.

The 64-year-old actor, usually known for his lovable, if grumpy, portrayal of the Portwenn GP, appears almost unrecognisable as the disgraced newsman.

https://twitter.com/channel5_tv/status/2029495395965870151?s=20

Viewers are given a glimpse into the rapid unravelling of his secrets after a national newspaper first reported that a “top BBC star” had paid a teenager for sexual pictures.

The production, which has been a year in the making, is the first major collaboration between Channel 5’s factual and scripted commissioning teams.

It is based on extensive research and first-hand interviews with those at the heart of the scandal, promising an “unflinching” look at the human cost behind the headlines.

The drama will also cover Edwards’ formal resignation from the BBC following medical advice and his subsequent conviction for serious child sexual offences.

Ben Frow, Chief Content Officer at Channel 5, described the series as an “important and shocking story” about a man in a position of power who betrayed the public’s trust.

The series is directed by BAFTA-winner Michael Samuels and written by Mark Burt, with the production team gaining exclusive access to the investigation that led to Edwards’ downfall.

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is expected to air later this year, with the trailer already sparking intense debate on social media about the “nuanced and complex” portrayal of the disgraced star.

Political battle erupts as Llanelli Rural Council approves 8% council tax rise – bringing three-year increase to 47%

The decision will affect residents across communities outside Llanelli town centre, including Llwynhendy, Pemberton, Five Roads, Bynea, Dafen, Felinfoel, Swiss Valley, and Glyn.

Opposition councillors from Plaid Cymru and Independent groups condemned the decision, warning it will place a further burden on households during the ongoing cost of living crisis, following an “eye-watering” 32% increase last year.

But Council Leader Cllr Rob Evans hit back, claiming the opposition councillors themselves were responsible for driving up the precept by insisting on ward-specific projects – and accused them of hypocrisy for criticising allowances while earning approximately £20,000 per year as County Councillors.

Cllr Alex Evans, Leader of the Opposition, said the decision shows “the administration is out of touch with the priorities of ordinary residents.”

“People are already struggling to get by. Forcing them to pay almost 50% more in council tax than just three years ago is just not on — that is why we had to vote against the proposed budget tonight. Residents are being asked to pay more while council leaders spend on luxuries,” he said.

Opposition councillors also criticised continued spending on councillor attendance payments, along with a leased car and chauffeur to escort the Chair of Council to events. An optional attendance payment allows councillors to claim £15 for each meeting they attend, with several meetings lasting less than 10 minutes in 2025, and the shortest lasting only three minutes.

“Opposition councillors and residents will rightly question the judgement and priorities of Labour councillors after refusing to scrap attendance payments and return the leased car,” Cllr Evans added.

Opposition councillors contrasted the move with neighbouring Llanelli Town Council which voted to freeze its tax.

The council has since moved from being Labour-run to a new Independent administration and has committed to scrapping councillor payments.

Cllr Sharen Davies, Independent member who also voted against the budget, challenged the administration’s claim that the tax rise was driven in part by the Canolfan Llwynhendy project.

“This development has been funded largely through grants and partner support. It should not be used as a smokescreen to justify excessive tax rises. Llwynhendy residents deserve investment and improvements in our community,” she said.

“This tax hike is completely unacceptable and will put serious financial pressure on our residents. Labour must rethink this further tax increase and start cutting back on unnecessary luxuries.”

However, Council Leader Cllr Rob Evans strongly rejected the criticism, pointing out that the Council’s administration is a coalition of Labour, Independent, and Plaid Cymru members – not a solely Labour-led authority.

He said the current Council has inherited a significant backlog of issues from the previous administration’s “lack of foresight” when adopting numerous new projects and asset transfers.

Cllr Evans explained that last year’s 32% increase was driven by unavoidable commitments, including £107,000 required in the Llwynhendy/Pemberton Ward to complete the new Canolfan Llwynhendy build and to fund unexpected drainage works at Gwili Fields in Cllr Sharen Davies’s ward, recruitment of additional staff to support growing community facilities, and replacement of a grounds maintenance vehicle.

He said this year’s 8% rise primarily reflects investment in Plaid Cymru and Independent wards, including £40,000 for refurbishing a play area for the Five Roads/Glyn Ward – Cllr Alex Evans’s ward – and further investment in Canolfan Llwynhendy.

“It is important to note that had Councillors Alex Evans and Sharen Davies not insisted on these additional ward-specific projects, this year’s rise would have been closer to the general cost of living and would have eased financial pressure on local households. For a Band D property, the increase equates to 28 pence per week,” Cllr Evans said.

On the Chairperson’s car, he said the Council continues to maintain a car and driver because the Chair must represent the Council at numerous civic events across the community, and not all Chairpersons are able to drive. “This support ensures the Chair can fulfil the role effectively and inclusively,” he added.

Regarding councillor allowances, Cllr Evans said Llanelli Rural Council is one of the largest and most ambitious town and community councils in Wales, and as a result, councillors face increasing demand on their time to meet governance and regulatory requirements.

“The role is no longer entirely voluntary in practice. Members dedicate substantial time to reading agendas, reports, and background papers, in addition to attending meetings. The meeting allowance ensures councillors are not out of pocket for fulfilling their duties,” he said.

He added:

“It must also be acknowledged that the councillors quoted in the opposition press release are themselves County Councillors. County Councillors receive a basic salary of approximately £20,000 per year, and for context this is more than the rural council’s entire budget.”

The council’s administration said it remains committed to transparency, responsible financial management, and ensuring that all communities within the Council area benefit from sustained investment and high quality services.

Wife and lover jailed for 19 years each after plotting to murder her husband in armed caravan ambush

Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry, both 46, were sentenced after a jury found them guilty of conspiracy to murder Christopher Mills, Michelle’s husband of ten years. The case exposed months of planning, chilling discussions about how to kill him, and a final ambush that only failed because the victim fought back.

A plot to clear the way for an affair

The court heard that Mills and Berry had been in a secret relationship for several months and were desperate to remove Mr Mills from their lives. Detectives uncovered messages showing the pair discussing a range of ways to kill him, from poisoning him in his sleep to staging a shooting or causing his car to explode. The intention, police said, was to make his death look like a suicide so they could continue their relationship without suspicion.

Two failed attempts before the caravan attack

Investigators found that the pair had already made two aborted attempts to attack Mr Mills in late August 2024. Berry injured his knee during one of the failed raids, but the planning continued. Messages between the pair showed Mills encouraging Berry and reassuring him that she would make sure her husband was vulnerable when the time came.

The night the plot came to life

The final attempt took place on 20 September 2024 at a caravan in Cenarth, Ceredigion, where Mills and her husband were staying. Mills encouraged Mr Mills to drink so he would fall asleep, while Berry messaged her moments before he and a second man, Steven Thomas, burst into the caravan wearing masks and carrying imitation firearms.

Despite being beaten, Mr Mills fought back and managed to raise the alarm. Armed officers, dog units and the police helicopter were deployed, and Berry and Thomas were found hiding in nearby undergrowth. Mills herself dialled 999, pretending to be an innocent bystander with no idea why her husband had been targeted.

A fake suicide note and a web of lies

When officers searched Berry and Thomas, they found gas masks, imitation firearms and a typed suicide note purporting to be from Mr Mills. Detectives said this discovery changed the entire direction of the investigation, revealing that the attack was not a random burglary but a planned killing.

Mills continued to deny any involvement, insisting she had no idea why her husband had been attacked. But digital forensic work quickly linked her to Berry and exposed the affair, along with months of messages discussing how to kill her husband. Officers said she never once tried to stop the plot — her only concern was not being caught.

“Cold and calculated” – detective condemns pair’s lack of remorse

Detective Inspector Sam Gregory said the case had been one of the most disturbing his team had dealt with, describing Mills and Berry as “cold and calculated individuals” who had shown “no remorse for the devastation they caused.”

He said the dramatic twists of the case should not distract from the reality that Christopher Mills’ life was genuinely at risk.

DI Gregory said:

“It is easy to get carried away by the dramatic details in this case, with its many twists and turns, and to forget that there is a victim behind the sensational headlines and lurid media stories.”

He added that the betrayal at the heart of the plot was almost as shocking as the violence itself.

“Mr Mills’ life was truly at risk, and the person he should have been able to trust the most was behind the plans to harm him.”

The detective said the pair had never accepted responsibility for what they had done.

“Despite their not guilty pleas, and claims that the plots to kill Mr Mills were just fabrications, the evidence showed that Mills and Berry’s conspiracy was very real and that there had been multiple attempts to bring their plots to fruition.”

He said the investigation had revealed a level of planning and persistence that left officers in no doubt about the pair’s intentions.

“I believe both Mills and Berry are cold and calculated individuals, who have shown no remorse for their actions despite the devastation they have caused.”

Sentences handed down

Mills and Berry were each jailed for 19 years for conspiracy to murder. Thomas, who had earlier admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, was sentenced to 12 months — time already served on remand.

DI Gregory said he hoped the sentencing would allow Mr Mills to begin rebuilding his life after what he described as an “unimaginable” ordeal.

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Pair guilty of conspiracy to murder after armed caravan attack

A woman and her lover have been convicted of conspiracy to murder following a violent attack on a caravan in Cenarth, Ceredigion.

Michelle Mills, 46, of Llangennech, Llanelli, and Geraint Berry, 46, of Clydach, were found guilty at Swansea Crown Court after a two‑week trial. The court heard the pair had plotted to kill Mills’ husband, Christopher Mills, so they could continue their affair.

A third defendant, Steven Thomas, 47, also of Clydach, was cleared of conspiracy to murder but had earlier admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Armed raid on caravan

The case centred on events on 20 September 2024, when two masked men armed with guns forced their way into Mr Mills’ caravan. Despite being badly beaten, he managed to fight them off and raise the alarm.

Mills herself dialled 999, claiming two unknown men had attacked her husband. Armed officers, dog units and the police helicopter were deployed, and Berry and Thomas were soon found hiding in nearby undergrowth. Officers recovered gas masks and a fake suicide note addressed to Mills, purporting to have been written by her husband.

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Affair uncovered

Detectives quickly established that Mills and Berry had been in a secret relationship for around three months. Digital forensic work uncovered a series of messages between them discussing ways to kill Mr Mills, including poisoning him with sleeping tablets, arranging a shooting, or causing his car to explode.

In one exchange, Berry told Mills he was meeting “boys” to plan what to do with her husband. She replied: “Yes, lovely, thank you.” The only concern she expressed was that they should not get caught.

The pair had made two aborted attempts to attack Mr Mills in late August before the September raid. On the night of the attack, Mills encouraged her husband to drink so he would fall asleep, while Berry messaged her moments before bursting into the caravan.

After the failed assault, Mills texted Berry: “Police have been called get away, delete all communications … please on both phones … I love you.”

Police response

Detective Inspector Sam Gregory of Dyfed‑Powys Police said digital evidence was crucial in proving the conspiracy.

“The communication between Mills and Berry made it clear that since the end of June 2024, the pair had embarked on a secret relationship. In a short period of time, Berry, encouraged by Mills, became increasingly occupied by hostile thoughts about her husband, and the pair had communicated a number of ways in which they could kill him.”

DI Gregory added that the discovery of gas masks and a fake suicide note showed the pair intended to stage Mr Mills’ death as a suicide.

Verdicts and sentencing

Mills was arrested shortly after the attack and told officers: “I’m going to prison for this, aren’t I?”

Following the trial, Mills and Berry were convicted of conspiracy to murder. Thomas was acquitted of that charge but will be sentenced for the firearms offence.

DI Gregory said:

“While this case has all the makings of a TV drama, at the heart of it was a very real conspiracy to take someone’s life. Mills and Berry had plotted not one, not two, but three attempts to take Mr Mills’ life, and I have no doubt they would have continued had they not been caught that night.”

All three defendants will be sentenced on 19 December 2025.

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#armedPolice #caravan #caravanMurder #Cenarth #Ceredigion #Clydach #conspiracyToMurder #DyfedPowysPolice #fakeSuicideNote #featured #firearms #forensics #gasMasks #Llangennech #murder

UK rail accident investigators dealt with almost 500 issues in 2024 http://dlvr.it/TKt3LN #annualreport #Llangennech #Policy #RAIB

UK rail accident investigators dealt with almost 500 issues in 2024 http://dlvr.it/TKt27F #annualreport #Llangennech #Policy #RAIB

Interesting data from the Census - 88.5% of households own one or more car in Swiss and #Llangennech (84.6% for #Carmarthenshire as a whole). Unsurprising considering the car-focused infrastructure. Needs fixing. The work on the Llanelli Spinal Route, specifically the building of Pont Bennett, looks promising. Public transport here is woeful too. https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/housing/number-of-cars-or-vans/number-of-cars-3a/no-cars-or-vans-in-household?msoa=W02000160